Repeater for phonograps.



F. G. PFROMIVIER.

REPEATER FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

APELlCATION FiLED SEPT. 22. 1916.

1,293,537., Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET L WITNESSES wmag M F. G. PFROMMER.

REPEATER FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

APPL!CAT!0N FILED SEPT. 22. 1916.

Iatented Feb. 4, 1919.

INVENTOR WITNESSES 5w N Q.

a. QIZWWW A TTOH/VEYS F. G.- PFROMIVIER. REPEATER FOR PHONOGRAPHS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22. 1916.

Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEE[ 3.

e-ww M m N M T .l A

F. G. PFROIVIMER.

REPEATER FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 22. 916- 1 ,293,537 Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

rnn'nnmox G. PFROMMEB, or YONKERS, NEW YORK.

REPEATEB- ron rrronoenarns.

Specification of Letters Fa't'nt.

Patented Feb, all, 1919.

a pnau'onniea September 2a, 191 SeriaINo. mtgs.

ThalQw/tbm zit mag concern:

' Be it lmpwnthat I Fnsmnuck G. Prnorp MEIR, steamer the United States, residing at :Ynnkers; in the county of Westchester' "and: State'of New York, have invented certain-new and usefnl Improvements in Repeatersfidr Phonogz-aphs, of which the following is a, full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

, Thisqinvehtion' relates to phonographs,

and with 'lespectat'o its more specific features, 'to repeating'rnechanism for phonographs.

(lne of'the' objects of the invention is the provision of an eflicient construction where- 'y easy and smooth engagement and. disengageihtint of the playing needle with the record I is accomp ished without marring either the record or theneedle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a practical construction of repeatinginechanism which may be readily applied to standard forms of phonographs. Another object of the invention is the provision of a repeating device which may be readily adjusted so-as to operate in con-L nectio'n with difi'ere'nt sized records.

other'obiecrs will be in part obvious an in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts whichwill be exemplified in the construction hereinafter. set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

' In the accompanying drawings formin part of this specification and wherein SlmIf lar reference v characters refer to similar parts throiighout the several views,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a phonograph with the invention applied thereto;

1g. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1;

' Fi". 3 is a view oi the record playing track looking in the direction of the arrow at g- 2 age i a section on the line b-b of Fig.

Fig. s is awie of the' needl e return Fig. Z-is aside view of the tone-arm and :.needle lifting lever; and

Figs. 8,9 and 10 are diagrammatic sectibns showing detail relationships of several parts. V

As the present inveht-ionha's relation more particularl" to. a repeating mechanism for phonograp' s, it is disclosed herein inioon .nection with an otherwise w'ell know'n form of-phonog'raph. The numeral-1 indicates a base, "below. which may he, s'u pqrted a spring or other motor 2 adapted to drive. a motor-operated part, which in-the present instance is a record support, or rotatable table, -3;- 4' indicating a "tone. arm pivoted to the base'fat 15 andoverlyin'gthe record table, this tone arm being adapted to swing. on its axis transversely. of; a -record supported 'on said table. 6 indicates a sou'nd 'box carrying the usual playingneedle 7,. the sound box comprising a bracket 8 having an adjustablelabutment', such as a set screw 9, this abutment being adapted to co'iiperatewith one end .of a sound box r-lifting lever, "here-- inafter referred to. In the present embodiment the sound box is pivotally connected to the tone'arm so a's'to "move toward and from the record on the table 3. A record being placed on the table 3, as the motor operates the playing needle 7 traverses the record and the score is reproduced in the usual mannerl In the present instance the needle traverses the record from its outer side toward the center of rotation thereof, and provision is made for automaticaly disengaging the needle from the record at the completion of the reproduction, returning the needle to-a preceding portion of the record, (in the present instance the beginning thereof), and causing it to rengage the record at said preceding portion, and in this Wise the playing of the record will be repeated so long as the motor operates.

Means are employed to lift the needle out of engagement with the record and to su 7 port the needle out of engagement with t e record while it is being returned to the be; ginning thereof, and in the present instance this means comprises a lever 10 pivotally connected with the tone arm 4, as by means of the ears 11 connected to straps 12-, which may be attached to and detached from the tone arm. One arm of this lever, as '13, is adapted to engage the abutment or screw 9,

so that when this arm rises the sound box;- will be lifted sufliciently to effect disengage ment of the playing needle from the record. As will be obvious, this disengagement need be only slight. The arm 13 then supports the sound box and the needle While the latter is being returned to a preceding portion of the record, whereupon a downward move ment of the arm 13 permits the needle to reengage the record. After such reengagement has been efiected, the arm 13 moves downwardly farther sufliciently to become disengagedor free ofthe sound box so as to permit the needle to have unobstructed play upon the record, this lost motion being desirable on account of inequalities in the ro 'tary plane occupied by the record during operation. It is most desirable that the needle shall be brought into reengagement with the record lightly and smoothly, so as to avoid marring the record or the .needle. Especially is this desirable when needles are employed which are designed to be played several times, as for instance, tungsten needles. As will appear, the smooth and easy rengagement conducin to the longevity of needles andthe reco s is effected by the present invention.

The lever 10 preferably lies beneath the tone arm 4 and may be guided for its vertijcal movement-toward and from the record. by the stop post 14 passing through a slot 15 in the lever, this stop post being adapted to cotiperate with the usual adjustable member 15' adapted to cooperate with a manually operated brake to stop the rotation of the record table when, the playin of the record has been completed. It wil be observed that the adjustable functions of this brake mechanism are not interfered with by this invention, but that on the contrary the construction is such as to permit the automatic stopping of the playing of the record or not, as may e desired. The needle-lift- 111g movement of the lever 10 is effected by means of a motor, and this motor, in the present instance, is provided by the arm 16 of the lever 10, this arm either being sufficiently long so as to have an efi'ective weight sufiiclent to overcome the weight of the sound box and needle, or, as in the present embodiment, the arm may be wei hted at its outer end, as at 17, so that when t e lever 10 is free to move the weight causes the arm 13 to rise. The weight may be provided by a series of shot heldin a receptacle at the end of the arm 16, as. illustrated. In this wise the efiectlve weight of the arm 16may be adusted by usmg more or'less shot. The numeral 18 indicates a dog, the same bein a part ofthe weight arm 16, and depending therefrom, and 19 indicates a motor-operated means or lever lifter disposed below and opposite the dog 18and adapted to lift the arm 16 of the lever 10,, so as. to cause the assesses-1 slots in upright brackets 20 fastened to thebase 1, or forming part of a plate 20 screwed to said base,:said bar being pivotally connected to one end of a connecting rod 21, the other end of said rod loosely pivotally engaging a stra 22 fastened to a lever 23, one end of whic is ivotedto the plate 20 at 24 the other end 'aving a projection, or cam follower, 25 adapted .to engage a'cam 26 rotatable with the record support and which is preferably a spiral cam formed on themder face of the table 3, and having a groove engaged by the edges of roller 25. As the table 3-rotates the projection 25 when. engaged by the cam will move the follower 23 .in a direction to raise the bar '19 and thus elevate the Weight arm 16. Afterthe full effected, the projection 25 will be disengaged from the cam 26, whereupon the spring 27 will return the follower more or less toward 'its. initial position ready for the next inward movement. The raising and lowering of the follower into engagement with the cam 26 is effected by the lever 10, theweight arm 16 of which, on its descent, engages a follower lifter 28, in the present instance an arm of a lever pivoted to the base at 29 and having another arm 30 lyin beneath the follower 23. The'arm 28 is disposed so as to be engaged by the lower edge offthe dog 18 before the full downward movement of the weight arm 16 is effected, so thatthe full downward movement ofthe dog will raise the lever 23 vertically and cause the roller 25 to come into "the path of the cam 26. A spring 31 may be employed to cushion the downward movement of the follower lever 23. p 7

.VVhen the needle 7 is brought into engagement with the record at the beginnin of the record the wei 'ht arm 16 is in its e evated position with the arm 13 slightly out of engagement with the screw 9. To support the arm 16 in this position during the playing of the record a track 32 is engaged by the dog 1-8 of the weight arm during the progress of the needle transversely of the record, the dog 18 slipping off the end 33 of the track when the playing of the record has been completed. The, dropping of the dog from the track. 32' effects the disengagement of the needle from the record through the instrumentality of the arm 13' and sound box, and as well the engagement of a shoe 34 with the record support 3, this shoe being -designed to cotiperate frictionally with the edge of the record table to return the needle for the repetition of the record. In the manages? W ha ving a crank arm 36' to-Which is connected one end of a spring 37, the other end of said spring being connected to an adjusting screw 38 for adjusting the tension of this spring. The shoe 34 is so pivoted relative to the pivot of the lever that when the weight arm 16 isin its elevated position, the shoe escapes the edge of the record table 3, permitting the latter to rotate freely, unobstructed by said shoe. The stress of spring 37 ,whenthe weight 17 is up may cause the upper edge. of the shoe- 34 to contact With the arm 16 and thereby prevent contact o'f said shoe-with the record table 3 during playing of the record. When the weight arm 16 drops, however, the shoe comes into contact with the edge of the record table 3 and the friction between the rotating table and the shoe operates to swing the tone arm so as to return the needle transversely of the record to the beginning of the latter. Any suitable material may be employed for'the shoe, that in the present embodiment being constructed as a curved metallic plate faced with leather and having sufficient lateralextent to cooperate with the edge of the table 3 for the full mbvement of the needle from its inner to its outer position. v 1

.When' the Weight arm of the lever 16 I being cut away at 40 so as to escape contact with said face on said return movement.

Preferably on this return movement the lower edge of the d0g 18 slides on a lower track or guide 41 and on the ed e of a keeper 42 pivoted to the lower traclr, at 43,

-'drops from the track 32 and the needle: is

said keeper being yieldingly held upward,

by a light spring 44. When the dog 18 has moved across the guide 41 into position such that the needle willrbe presented 0 posite the beginning of the record the li or 19 rises and lifts the weight arm and the dog 18 therewith so as to lower the sound box and place the needle gently upon'the record, the end 45. of the dog 18 wiping against the face39 of the track 32 and deflecting it rearwardly as the dog rises. \Vhen the dog has risen sufficiently the spring 45 urges the track 32 transversely into the vertical path of the dog 18, which latter will then rest upon the track 32 and the weight arm be maintained lifted during the succeeding playing operation. A device to limit the extent of the return movement of the needle is provided, which preferably'comprises a stop 46 in'the return path of the 18, said stop being provided byfr'h upward y extend a ing portion of theoguide member 41. Preferably also this guideiis notched-or recessed as at .47, for the reception of the dog 18,

when it leaves the track 41, thisrecess pre venting rebound of the weight arm from initial playing position,' thekeeper 4:2 assisting to retain the dog eifectivelyagainst the stop 46 during the rise of the-weight. arm. The stop 46 is. adjustable longitudinally of the path of translation of the weightarm .16 so as to limit the return movement .of said weight arm. Such adjustment is accomplished by forming the'track 41 and the stop 46 in one piece, which may be adjustably ronnected to a member 48fixed'to the base 1, the adjustment being effected by a set screw 49 assing through a slot 501in said plate and engaging said member 48; A similar adjustment may be provided for the track 32 so as to permit the end 33 thereof to be adjusted to a point at which the needle is lifted from the record. Preferably the track 32 is pivotally connected with a plate 51 adjustably connected to a member 51", fixed to the. base and operated by ahand lever 52, also fixed to said base. As the lever arm 16 rises, a forwardly projecting guide 53 on the stop 46 engages the inside'face of a projection 54 on the dog 18, soas to retain the lever arm 16 in position to hold the neodle 7 at the beginning of the record, un til the dog 18 engages the upper edge of track32. 1 i

;.In operation, when the end of the record is reached the weight arm 16 will drop from the point 33, lift the needle from the record, and move the shoe 3-1 into contact with'the edge of the record table. The continued rotation ofathe record table will frictionally coiiperate with said shoe to give the needle :1 return movement, the lever 10 moving witlr the. tone arm until brought up by the dog 18 coming into contact with the stop 46. Atthis oint the weight arm \will drop into the note: 47 and move the follower lifter arm 2 downwardly, thus raising the follower 2) into the path of the cam 26, and

also, by engaging the .upper edge of link is effected to free the arm 13 from the end I of the screw 9 so that thereafter, in the playing of the record, the needle is unobstructed.

Thus by the above described invention are accomplished. among others. the objects hereiubefore referred to.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and .many apparently widelij difi'erent embodiments of this invennet tion could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mat- ;ter contained in the above description or be interpreted asil I limiting sense.

shown in the accompanying drawings shall ustrative and not 1n a It. is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described,

Having described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a phonograph or the like, in combination, a playing needle adapted to traverse the record, means ada ted to disengage the needle from therecor return it to a preceding portion of the record and cause it to 'rengage the record comprising aleverv weighted to lift the needle from the record, and means to support said Weight to permit said needle to play. v

2. In a phonograph or the like, in combination, a laying needle adapted to traverse the recor means adapted to disengage the "retngage the record "comprising a lever needle from the record, return it to' a preceding portion of the record and cause it to weighted to lift the needle from the record, and means to support said weight to permit said needle to play, said lever being arranged to have lost motion before cooperating with the sound box to lift the needle.

, 3. In a phonograph or the like, in combination, a laying needle adapted, to traverse the record means adapted to disengage the needle from the record, return it to a preceding portion of the record and cause it to reengage the record comprising a lever Weighted to lift the needle from the record. and means gradually to raise said weight to bring the needle into engagement with the disk.

the recor 4'. In a phonographor the like, in combination, a (playing needle adapted to traverse means adapted to disengage the needle from the record, return it to a preceding portion of the record, and cause it to rengage the record, comprising a motoroperated lever adapted to cooperate with the sound box to support the needleout of engagement with the record. motor-operated means adapted to move said lever to cause I the needle to engage the record and thereafter become disengaged from the sound box nation, a playing needle adapted totraverse the record, means adapted to disengagetthe needle from the record, return it to a precedmeats? means adapted to move said lever to cause the needle to engage the record and thereafter become disengaged from the sound box, comprising a cam rotatable with the record support, a follower movable into and out of engagement With said cam, and means operated by saidlever adapted to move said follower into engagement with said cam.

6. In a phonograph or the like, in combination, a playing needle adapted to traverse the record, means adapted to disengage the needle from the record, return it to a preceding portion ofthe record and cause it to re" engage the record, com rising a motor-operated part, and a shoe a apted to fricti'onally engage said motor-operated part to eflect said return.

7. In a phonograph or the like, in combination, a playing needle adapted to traverse the record, means adapted to disengage the needle from the record, return itjto a preceding portion of the record and cause it to reengage the record, comprising a motor-operated part, and a shoe connected to the tone arm adapted to frictionally engage said motor-operated part to efiectsaid return.

8. In a phonograph orthellike, in combination, a playing needle adapted totra'verse the record, and means adapted todisengage the needle from the record, return it to a preceding portion of the record and cause it to reengage the record, comprising a shoe connected to the tone arm and adapted to engage the record support to effect said return.

9. In a phonograph or the like, in combination, a playing needle adapted to traverse the record, means adapted to disengage the needle from the record, return it to a preceding portion of the record and cause itto reengage the record, comprising a motor-op-' erated part, a shoe adapted to frictionally engage said irlrotor-operated part to eifect said return, fa} motor-operated lever adapted to lift said needle from the record and support it during its return, motoroperated means adapted to move said lever to cause said needle to rengage said record after its return, means adapted to adjust the point at which the needle is lifted from the record, and means adapted to adjust the extent of said return movement.

10. In a repeater for phonographs, in

combination, a sound box movable toward and from the record, a needle, a lever against one arm of which said sound box is adapted to be supported, the other arm of said lever being of an eifective weight to overcome the Weight of SELlCl'SOHIlCl box and needle, and motor-operated means adapted to raise said move into engagement with a record.

' weig -11. In a repeater for phono .aphs, in combination, a rotatable record ta lo, a movable tone arm, a needle carried by said arm,

and means adapted to move said tone arm transversely of a record on said table comprising a shoe connected to said tone arm and adapted to move intoand out of contact with said table.

' 12. In a repeater for phonographs, in combination, a rotatable record table, a tone arm, a sound box movable toward and from a record on said table, a needle, a translatable lever against one arm of which said sound box is adapted to be supported, the other arm of said lever being of an effective weight to overcome the weight of said sound box and needle, a shoe connected to said tone arm adapted to move into and out of contact with said table, whereby returning movement 5f said needle transversely of a record on said table is eflected, and motor-operated means adapted to raise said weight arm to permit the needle to move into en agement with the record.

13. n a repeater for phonographs, in combination, a sound box movable toward and from the record, a needle, a lever against one arm of which said sound box is adapted to be supported, the other arm of said lever bein of an efi'ective weight to overcome the it of said sound box and needle, and motor-operated means adapted to raise said last-mentioned arm to permit said needle to move into engagement with a record and cause said first-mentioned arm to be free of the sound box when the needle is on the record.

14. In a repeater for phonographs, in combinatioma rotatable record table, a tone arm, a sound'box movable toward and from a record on said table, a needle, a translatable lever S against one arm of which said sound box is adapted to be supported, the

other arm of said lever being of an eflective weight to overcome the weight of said sound box and needle, a shoe connected to said tone arm adapted to move into and out of contact with said table, whereby returning movement of said needle transversely of a record on said table is effected, and motoroperated means adapted to raise said weight 'arm to permlt the needle to move into engagement with the record, said motor-operated means comprising a rotatable cam, a reciprocatory follower operated b said cam and a member connected to said ollower for lifting said weight arm.

15. In a repeater for phonographs, in combination, 'a rotatable record table, a tone arm, a sound box movable toward and 'from a record on said table, a needle, a translatable lever against one arm of which said sound box is adapted to be supported, the

other arm of said lever bein of an effective weight to overcome the weight of said soundbox and needle, a shoe connected to said tone arm adapted to move into and out of contact with said table, wherebyreturmng movement of said needle transversely of a said follower, and a follower lifter adapted to be raised by the descent of said weight arm to effect engagement between said cam and said follower lifter.

16. In a repeater for phonographs, in combination, a rotatable record table, a tone arm, a sound box movable toward and from a record on said table, a needle, a translataJble lever against one arm of which said sound box is adapted to be supported, the other arm of said lever being of an effective weight to overcome the Weight of said sound box and needle, a shoe connected to said tone arm adapted to move into and out of contact with said table, whereby returning movement of said needle transversely of a record on said table is effected, and motoroperated means adapted to raise said weight arm to permit the needle to move into engagement with the record, said motor-operated means comprising a cam on the under face of said table, a recip'rocatory follower vertically movable to engage and disengage said cam, and a pivoted lever one arm of which is beneath said reciprocatory follower and the other in the descending path of said wei ht arm adapted to lift said reciprocatory fofiower into the path of said cam.

17. In a repeater for phonographs, in combination, a rotatable record table, a tone arm, a sound box movable toward and from a record on said table, a needle, a translatable lever against one arm of which said sound box is adapted to be supported, the other arm of said lever bein of an effective weight to overcome the weig t of said sound .box and needle, a shoe connected to said tone ing of the record.

18. In a repeater for phonog'raphs, in combination, a rotatable record table, a tone arm, a sound box movable toward and from a record on said table, a needle, a translat- 'maintain said weight arm elevated during playing of the record, comprising a track longitudinally of which said weight arm moves, and a dog carried by said weight arm adapted to move on said track.

19. In a repeater for phonographs, in combination, a rotatable record table, a tone arm, a sound box movable toward and from a record on said table, a needle, :1 translatable lever against one arm of which said sound box is adapted to be supported, the other arm of said lever being of an effective weight to overcome the weight of said sound box and'needle, a shoe connected to said tolle arm adapted to move into and out of c011- tact with said table, whereby returning movement of said needle transversely of a record on said table is effected, and motor-operated means adapted to raise said weight arm to permit the needle to move into engagement with the record, comprising a track pivoted means? for transverse movement, a do carried by said weight arm adapted to sli e longitudinally of said track, said dog being disposed so that upon the weight arm being lifted the dog wipes past said track, and a spring adapted to urge said track transversely into the vertical path of said dog.

20. In a repeater for phonographs, in combination, a rotatable record table,a tone arm, a sound box movable toward and from a record on said table, a needle, a translatable lever against one arm of which said sound 4 box is adapted to be supported, the other arm of said lever being of an effective weight to overcome the weight of said sound box/ and needle, a shoe connected to said tone arm adapted to move into and out of contact with said table, whereby returning movement of said needle transversely of a record onusaid table is effected, a stop adjustable longitudinally of the path of translation of said lever adapted to cooperate with said lever to limit its translation in onedireceltifoifl and motor-operated means adapted to ri'iise said weight arm to permit the needle to, move into engagement with the record.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK G. PFROMMER.

Witnesses H. M. SEAMANS, J. THOMSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "commissioner of Intent;

Washington, D. 0. 

